Because of its superficial similarity to Russianремень ‎(remenʹ), some early Russian dictionaries posited a connection between the words, either deriving the Slavic one from the Germanic one (as Chudinov did), or deriving the Germanic word from the Slavic one (as Dal did). The latter suggestion is impossible, as the Germanic pedigree of Riemen is impeccable; the former suggestion is also impossible, according to Vasmer, for phonological reasons.